Game apparatus



F. T. WAKEFIELD.

GAME APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 10, 1920. RENEWED APR. |8, |922. I

1,418,409, v PatentedJune 6,1922.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

| A 1 31M) I fox FIG.3. 3M

F. T. WAKEFIELD.

GAME APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 10, 1920. RENEWED APR. I8, 1922.

1,418,409.- PatenfwdJune 1922,

2 SHE ETSSHEET 2- J2 Erma/ m warren STATES PATENT 0mm FRANK r. WAKEFIELD, or PITTSBURGH,PENNSYLVANIA.

GAME APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent, Patgnted .J 6 8 Application filed April 10, 1920, Serial No. 372,803. Renewed. April 18,1922. Serial No. 555,23 3

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, FRANK IVAKE- FIELD, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Pittsburgh, in the county of Allegheny and State ofPennsyL vania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Game Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in game apparatus, and more particularly to an apparatus designed for playing what is known as a war game, an object of the invention being to provide a game apparatus in which the play is entirely scientific, and in which game pieces represent and have movements similar to well known implements of warfare so as to give the game a realistic atmosphere.

A further object is to provide a game apparatus which permits the playing of a game for young and old, and which will be neat and attractive in appearance, and comparatively cheap to manufacture.

With these and other objects in view, the

invention consists in certain novel features of' construction and combinations and arrangements of parts as will be more fully hereinafter described and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawlngs, Figure 1 1s a plan view of a game board constructed in accordance with the present invention and game pieces arranged in their proper position for starting the play,

Figure 2 is a side elevational View of the device shown in Fig. 1, I

Figure 8 is an end elevational view thereof,

Figure 4 is an elevational view of the game board per se closed for containing the game pieces and the bridge of the apparatus,

' Figure 9 shows in top plan and elevational views, the. crown pieces which are employed for placement upon the game pieces representing infantrymen when the latter reach an opponents crown or king row.

In the preferred form of construction, the

game board per se preferably comprises two longitudinal half sections 5 and 6 placed in I side by side relation and'hingedly connected as at 7 so as to permit the sections to be folded as shown in Fig. 4 like-ordinary checker boards when-not in use, the sections present a parallelogram, and each section is divided ,into an equal number of square The two checkered sections 8 and 9 spaces. are separated by two transverse rows of square spaces 10 and-l1 which-begin one row inwardly from each side ofthe board,

thus leaving central side unused or blank spaces 12. Every other one of the square spaces iscolored dark and they are arranged so that thedark colors meet each other diagonally as is the case inchecker boards.

A platel3 which is preferably transparent, is supported a suitable distance above the game board by means of substantiallyinverted U-shaped supporting brackets 14 which are arranged at the ends of the plate 13 and transversely of the latter, the

vertical legs of the brackets 14 having their p lower ends removably frictionally seated in sockets 15 provided in the game board, and the leg connecting membersof the brackets being flatly fastened against the under side of the plate 13 by meansof screws '16 or v the like. The plate 13 is "of such form and is so arranged as to substantially cover the two rows of square spaces 10 and 11 which connect the checkered sections 8 and 9, and

said plate 13 is provided with marks 17 immediately 'above each colored square in the rows 10 and-11 for visibly indicating possible landing placesfor suchof the game pieces as cannot pass under the plate 18.

Also, the brackets 14 are engaged with the board at opposite sides of the hinge connection. 7 between-the two board sections5 and 6 so that, when the plate 131s operatively disposed, the board is held perfectly flat and prevented from accidental folding. I

As is the case with'checkers, the present game is adapted to be played by two players each having a set of game pieces correspond ing in number but distinguished by contrasting colors, and the game pieces are adapted ,7

V the board byeach player.

to be placed in predetermined positions upon As shown in Fig. 1 there are four colored square spaces; in each transverse row of each checkered section 8 and 9, and a game piece 18 representing a tank, rests upon each colored space of the row of both checl'rered sections 8 and 9 nearest the plate 13. Game pieces l9representing infantrymen are similarly arranged upon the nextrow of each checkered section, while further game pieces 20 representing aeroplanes are similarly placed on the third row of each checkered section. All of these pieces rest upon the game board in a horizontal plane below the plane of the plate 13 so that the atmosphere presented is that of implements of warfare positioned in trenches and adapted to be moved, up ward-1y upon the plate 13 for simulating the well known act of going over the top.

' Two further game pieces 21 are provided for each player'for placement in the last or crown row of the checkered sections, and these pieces are formed to represent submarines and are placed by each player in the second and third colored square spaces from the right of each player. These submarine game pieces are of such size as to pass beneath the plate 13 and, when said pieces are at a position of rest under said plate, the same are in a safety zone and have the appearance of being submerged. Thus,

'it will be seen that the present apparatus involves construction and forms of. game pieces of such nature that when the game is playedthe same gives a realistic war atmosphere.

When playing of the game commences, the movement is exactly as in checkers with respect to the pieces 18 and 19, there being one move at a time, and the players taking turns alternately. Certain oi the marks 17 upon the plate 13 are provided with di tinguishing indications 22 for indicating the sole places where the aeroplane pieces 20 may land upon the plate 13, and the aeroplane game pieces are restricted in movement from their initial point of rest as shown in Fig. '1 to either one o1": the two distinguished marks 1'? upon the plate 13 nearest the opponents game pieces. The only next possible move of thepieces 20 is from the plate 13'to the crown row of the opponent.

The submarine game pieces 21 have movementonly in a forward rectilinear directiomtrom one black space to another, one move being permitted for these pieces at a time; The tank pieces 18 and infantry pieces 19'are moved diagonally as in checkers one spaceat a time, and captures are efi'ected by these piecesby leaping over-the enemy diagonally into the vacant square beyond, the captured pieces being removed from the board. The-pieces 1.8 and 19 may. move diagonally one space at a time upon any of the marks 17 or" the plate 13, and when any of the game pieces have successfully moved to the crown row of tie enemy, a score is counted, one point being given for an aeroplane, two for a tank, three for an ini'antry-- man, tour for a submarine, and the infantryman being crowned at such time by a piece such as shown in Fig. 9 involving a dislc23 provided with a radial slot 2% so that said disk may rest upon the base 25 ofthe piece 19 encircling the shank 26 of the latter. At the start of the game the tank pieces 18 have the privilege of moving incither oirection like a king in checkers, while the infantry men pieces 19, are restricted to move, toward the enemy until crowned, when they also may move in either direction. t is an object of the. game to move the pieces to the crown row of the enemy, then back to the home crown row 01 the player of the piece, and then again to the crown row of the enemy much as possible inview of the fact that every time this is done the player scores a point or points. It will thus be seen that the present game embodies not only the principle of elimination of pieces as in checkers, but also the scoring of points. Play may be stopped after any. prede'ter mined number of gamesand the'player having the largestnumber of points is considered as winning. Y

It otten happens in the course of playing the present game, that one player corners the opposing playerspieces so that said opposing player is unableto make a move. In this case the player effecting a cornering scores live points. Further, the bridge or plate 18 is made transparent so that the submarine pieces will be clearly in view of both players when at rest under the plate 13. If desired, the game board of the present apparatus may be of sectional construction so as to enable removal of the central portion of the same whichcarries two rows of squares 10 and 11 for permitting the two checkered sections 8 and 9- to be placed in contiguous relation so that the ordinary game 015. checkers may be played thereon, it being noted, as herein betore'mentioned, that each checkered section 8 and 9-co-nstitutes substantially exactly one-half of an ordinary checkerboard. As shown in Figs 7 and 8, this may bedone by forming the game board in three transverse sections 27, 28 and 29 the tacos of the sections 27 and 29 carrying the checkered sections 8 and 9, and the face of the section 28 carrying the two rows of spaces 10and 11. Any suitable means may be provided for detachably con necting the board sections 27, 28 and 29' in their proper relation and for connecting the board sections 27 and 29 when the board section 28 is removed; As shown in Fig. 8., this may be. accomplished by. pro-,

viding dowel pins 30 on the edges of the board sections ccption within sockets 231 provided in the ad'acent edges oi the board sections 27 and 28 after the manner of: the usual table top construction of extension tables l'iaving re manner of use of the present invention will be readily understood by those skilled in the art, and it will be seen that I have pro vidcd a simple but enticing game which will furnish genuine pleasure to those playing the same whether young or old. a

I do not limitmyself tothe precise way of marking and laying outthe game board as above described, nor to the particular way of playing the game. although that described is believed to be preferable after consider able experimenting; and study.

1 What I claim-as new-is: V

1. A'game apparatus comprising a game board having on its'face two similar checkered sections connected by transverse rows ofcheckered spaces defining a safety zone on the face of the board for certain game pieces of the apparatus, and means providing ele vated. landing places for other game pieces of the apparatus at said safety zone.

2. A game apparatus comprising a game board having on its face two similar checkered sections connected by transverse rows of checkered spaces defining a safety zone for certain game pieces of the apparatus. a plate supported "above said transverse rows of spaces beneath which said certain game pieces are adapted to be moved inplaying the game and having indicating marks there-v on for defining resting places on the plate forother game pieces of. the apparatus.

3. A game apparatus comprising game board having on its face two similar checlc ere'd sections connected bytransverse rows of checkered spaces defining a safety zone for certain game pieces of the apparatus, a plate supported above said two transverse rows of spaces beneath which said certain game pieces are adapted to be moved in playing the game and having indicating marks thereon for defining resting places on the plate for other game pieces of the apparatus.

said plate having distinguishing indications at certain of said indicating marks forindieating restricting places of rest upon the plate for certain of said other game pieces.

4. A game apparatus comprisinga game board having on its face two similar checkered sections connected by transverse rows'of checkered spaces defining a safety zone for and 29 for removable recertain game pieces of theapparatus, a plate supported above said two transverse rows'of spaces beneath which ,said certain game pieces are adapted to be moved in playing the game and having indicating marks thereon for defining restingplaces on the plate for other game pieces of the apparatus,

said game board comprising two longitudi- I nal hingedly connected sections retained in open relation by said plate.

o. A game apparatus comprising a; game board having a checkered face, and a plate supported transversely above the central portion of the game board beneath which certain game pieces of the apparatus are. adapted to be moved :in playing the game,

said plate having positions of rest marked thereon for the remaining game pieces of the, apparatus. .f- 1. r 6. A game apparatus comprising a game board having a checkered face, a trans parent plate supported transversely above the central portionof the board, game pieces constructed ,tobe moved onsaidv checkered face and under saidplate with a satety rest when beneath saidplate, and othengame pieces constructed so as to be incapable of moving under said plate and adapted to be i moved on the checkered facepast said plate. 7. A game apparatus comprising a game provided with unused space at the opposite board having a checkered face, a'transparent ends of said plate, and the plate having marks thereon for indicating positions of rest for certain game pieces of the apparatus, the marks on the plate being directly above resting places on the face of the game 1 board. I

,9. A game apparatus. comprising a game board formed of two end and an intermediate removable section, the two end sections each-having checkered faces corresponding" to one-half of the checkered face of a checker 7 board, and theintermediate section having a plurality of rows of square spaces defining a safety zone for certain game pieces of the apparatus, means to connect the-two end sections of the game board when the interniedirepresenting points of rest for certain other game pieces of the apparatus.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature. I

FRANK T. WAKEFIELD: 

